Switchgear apparatus



Dec. 17, 1946. c. P. WEST 2,412,931

SWITCHGEAR APPARATUS Filed Dec. 15, 1945 S SheetS-Sheet 1 i l I i T i 1i WITNESSES: INVENTOR Char/e5 P h/esf.

Dec. 17, 1946. c. P. WEST SWITCHGEAR APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. 15,- 1943 Filed Dec. 15, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR WITNESSES:

ATTOR Y Patented Dec. 17, 1946 SWITCHGEAR APPARATUS Charles P. West,Forest Hills, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 15,1943, Serial No. 514,377

10 Claims. 1

My invention relates, generally, to switchgear apparatus and, moreparticularly, to metal-enclosed switchgear of the drawout type.

It is essential that switchgear of the drawout type for use on ships,and particularly Navy vessels, be of a rugged construction to withstandthe shocks encountered during battle. It is also essential that there beno danger of the removable apparatus units, such as circuit breakers,becoming displaced while being handled on a rolling or pitching vessel.Furthermore, it is desirable that the removable apparatus units be madereadily available for inspection and repair.

An object of my invention, generally stated, is to providemetal-enclosed switchgear which shall be simple and eflicient inoperation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

A more specific objection of my invention is to provide a simplified andimproved drawout mechanism for metal-enclosed switchgear.

Another object of my invention is to provide a drawout mechanism formetal-enclosed switch gear which can withdraw a removable apparatus unitto a position well out in front of the cell structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a. drawout mechanism formetal-enclosed switchgear which has complete control of the movement ofthe removable apparatus unit throughout its entire range of travel.

A still further object of my invention is to provide for controlling themovement of a removable apparatus unit through a range of travel greaterthan the depth of the cell in which the unit is disposed.

Still another object of my invention is to pro- -vide for interlockingthe drawout-mechanism :and the operating mechanism for a removablecircuit breaker unit.

' Other objects of my invention will be explained hereinafter or will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

According to one embodiment of my invention, a circuit breaker unit isremovably secured in a truck carriage which operates on an extensibletrack in a metal-enclosed cell. A drawout mechanism comprising a wormand gear which operates a rotatable arm is provided for driving thetruck carriage into and out of the cell. The arm is in engagement withthe carriage at all times and has control of the movement of the breakerthroughout its entire range of travel between the operating position inthe cell and a position sufficiently in front of the cell to make thebreaker and the interior of the cell readily accessible for inspectionand maintenance.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of my invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, partially in section and partially in side elevationof a portion of a switchgear unit embodying the principal features of minvention;

Fig. 2 is a view, partially in section and partially in front elevationof the structure shown in Fig. l, the section being taken along lineII-II of Fig. l; and.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, taken along the line III-III of Fig. 2, aportion of the apparatus being removed.

Referring to the drawings, the structure shown therein comprises aportion of a cell [0 which may be of the usual metal-enclosed typesuitable for housing a removable circuit breaker unit II that is mountedin the cell on an extensible track having a fixed section I2 and ahinged section l3 disposed at each side of the cell 10. As shown, thecell [0 comprises side members M, a base I5 which is mounted on channelmembers IS, a door H, a partition I8 which divides the cell ID from asimilar cell disposed above the one shown, and

. an insulating barrier 19 disposed beneath the partition l8.

The circuit breaker II is of the drawout type and is provided withsuitable disconnect contact members for engaging fixed contact members2| which are mounted on a base 22 disposed at the rear of the cell I0and supported by a framework 23. Suitable connections 24 are provided onthe contact members 2| for connecting power conductors to these members.

The breaker II is provided with an operating mechanism 25 for operatingthe contact members of the circuit breaker which interrupt the powercircuit in a manner well known in the art. The operating mechanism 25may be actuated by a handle 26 which is mounted on the front of .thedoor I1 and is provided with a shaft which extends through the door andcarries a pair of spaced operating arms 21 for engaging the operatingmechanism 25 when the door I! is closed.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the extensible track members I3, which arehinged to the fixed track members l2 by bolts 28, may be lowered to ahorizontal position to permit the breaker H to be Withdrawn from thecell [0. When the breaker H is fully inserted into the cell, the

3 hinged members |3 may be raised to a vertical position and secured bylatch members 29, thereby retaining the breaker in the cell. The door I!may then be closed, and the breaker operated by means of the handle 26.

In order to provide a drawout mechanism which is capable of withdrawingthe breaker H to a position well out in front of the cell It and alsowhich has complete control of the movement of the breaker unitthroughout its entire range of travel, a rotatable arm 3| operated by aworm 32 and a gear 33 may be utilized tomove the breaker unit into andout of the cell H9. The worm 32 may be driven by a shaft 33, therebyoperating the arm 3| through an angle .of approximately 180 as shown inFig. 3.

The gear 33 is mounted on .the bottom plate I of the cell l0, and oneend of the arm 3| is secured to the gear 33. The other end of the arm 3|is provided with a bolt 35 on which is mounted a rotatable sleeve '36.The sleeve'36 is disposed in a slot 31 provided in the bottom ofa truckcarriage 38 in which the breaker unit is mounted. The truck carriage 38is provided with rollers 39 which engage the track members 2 and H5.

As shown, the breaker mechanism is mounted on an insulating panel 32which is secured to a frame 43 by means of bolts 43. As shown in-Fig. 1,the frame 4'3'is providedwith horizontally extending side members whichmake the'breaker unit stable whenit is secured in the frame 43. Thus,the breaker unit may be mounted in the frame 43 prior to its insertioninto the cell 13, and the frame 43 then set into position in the truckcarriage jifi. The frame may be securedto the truck carriage by means ofscrews 45 which extend through angle members 35, provided on the sidesof the frame 43, into the sides of the truck carriage 33. In thismanner, the breaker uni maybe securely held in the truck carriage.

Since the movement of the truck carriage 38 is at all times under thecontrol of the arm 3|, the movementof the breaker unit I lint o and outof the cell it i controlled by the drawout mechanism throughout theentire range of travel. Therefore, it is impossible for the breaker unitto become displaced as a result of the lurching or pitching of a vessel.7

Furthermore, as shown most clearly in Eigs. 1 and 3, the arm 3| is ofsufficient length tomove the breaker unit I to a position .well out infront of th cell ill, h r y m n th bre ker an cell parts completelyaccessible for inspection or maintenance. This feature is notobtainablewith drawout mechanisms of previous types, such. as long screw drives,which move the rear of the breaker unit only to the front edgerof theQelland cannot control the movement through a range of travel greaterthan the depth of the cell,as can the device hereindescribed.

In order to prevent the primary disconnect contact members 2| from beingengaged or disen a ed Whil t e Contac m b rs of t circu breaker areclosed, .a mechanical interlock i prolded. As shown, the interlockcomprises a bar 457, one end of which is connected to the operatingmechanism 215 by a pin d3 The other end of the bar is dispOSBl in anopening 39 in the gear 33 when the breaker unit ll fully inserted intothe cell In, and the operating mechanism '25 is in the. closed position.

In this manner, the bar 'fil prevents rotation of the gear 33 until the'operatingmechanism is raised to the open position, thereby raising thebar 41 sufi'iciently to withdraw it from the opening in the gear 33, asindicated by the broken lines shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, it isnecessary for the contact members of the circuit breaker to be openedbefore the breaker unit H can be withdrawn from the cell It).

Likewise, the breaker unit I I cannot be inserted into the cell toengage the disconnect contact members 2| while the operating mechanism25 is in the closed position. If an attempt is made to insert thebreaker unit into the cell with its contact members closed, the lowerend of the bar 3] will strike the edge of the gear 33 prior to the engaement of the contact members 2|, thereby preventing further movement ofthe breaker unit into the cell.

The inward movement of the breaker unit can be completed only by raisingthe operating mech anism 25 to the open position of the circuit breaker,thereby permitting the bar 37 to clear the gear 33. When'the breakerunit is fully inserted into the cell, the operating mechanis'm 25 can bemoved to its lowermost position to close the circuit breaker as the endof the bar 4! enters the opening 33. As explained hereinbefore, thebreaker cannot be removed from the cell until the operating mechanism 25is raised to itsuppermost position, thereby lifting the bar 4'? out ofthe opening 49, 5

An additional safety feature is provided which prevents the door I? frombeing opened while the contact members-of the circuit breaker areclosed. This feature is obtained by a door interlock comprising a hook5| which is carried by a crossbar 52 that mechanically connects thethree poles of the circuit breaker unit As shown in Fig. l, the hook 5|engages a member 53 carried bythe door H to prevent openin of the doorwhilethe contact members of the circuit breaker areielosed. As indicatedby the broken lines in Fig. 1,?t-he bar 52 and the hook 5| are raised todisengage the member 53 when the contact members of h bre a op ed. t eeb remedies th door H to be opened.

From the foregoing description, it i apparent t a I have v ded a Sw ears rusinie h ng a a u e h m for movahleibrea ser unit which has completecontrol of the movemen of the breake u i throu hout its entir ran e oftr thermore, th b ake u i is mechanically driven to a positionwell outin fr n f t e e l sin ce lor cubicle and is r taine i that pos tion by te drawout mechanism. The breaker unit cannot be displaced by sudden orunexpected movements .of the -.vess el or ot'ner structure inwhich theswitchgear apparatus is mounted. V

since numerous changes may be made in the above described constructionand difierent .einbodirnents of the invention maybemadeflwithoutudeparting from the spirit and scope thereof, it isintended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shownin the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrativeand notinalimitingsense. v

I claim asmy inven i n v In switchgear apparatus, the combination with a,cellandan-apbaratus unit removablydisposed therein, of a track disposedthe .celLa truck carriage ,mountedon the. track for supporting saidunit, ,a rotatable arm ha ing ,a pivotal axi f d rms s d c r a e n ladou f th c l said .a im be ng in eneaeernennwith .sjaid carriagethroughout ,its entire rangebf travel, i and means for operating saidarm about its pivotal axis in a horizontal plane through an angle ofsubstantially 180 degrees.

In switchgear apparatus, the combination with a cell and an apparatusunit removably disposed therein, of a track disposed in the cell, atruck carriage mounted on the track for supporting said unit, arotatable arm having a pivotal axis for driving said carriage into andout of the cell, said arm being in engagement with said carriagethroughout its entire range of travel, and worm and gear means foroperating said arm about its pivotal axis through an angle ofsubstantially 180 degrees.

3. In switchgear apparatus, the combination with a cell and an apparatusunit removably disposed therein, of a track disposed in the cell, atruck carriage mounted on the track for supporting said unit, arotatable arm having a pivotal axi for driving said carriage into andout of the cell, said arm being in engagement with said carriagethroughout its entire range of travel, and worm and gear means foroperating said arm about its pivotal axis in a horizontal plane throughan angle of substantially 180 degrees.

4. In switchgear apparatus, the combination with a cell and an apparatusunit removably disposed therein, of a track having an extensible portionextending outside of the cell disposed in the cell, a truck carriagemounted on the track for supporting said unit, a rotatable arm having apivotal axis for driving said carriage into and out of the cell, saidarm being in engagement with said carriage throughout its entire rangeof travel, and means for operating said arm about its pivotal axisthrough an angle of substantially 180 degrees.

*5. In switchgear apparatus, the combination with a cell and an apparatuunit removably disposed therein, or a track having an extensible portionextending outside of the cell disposed in the cell, a truck carriagemounted on the track for supporting said unit, a rotatable arm having apivotal axis for driving said carriage into and out of the cell, saidarm being in engagement with said carriage throughout its entire rangeof travel, and means for operating said arm about its pivotal axis in ahorizontal plane through an angle of substantially 180 degree to drivethe carriage onto the extended portion of the track, thereby moving saidunit entirely outside of the cell.

6. In switchgear apparatus, in combination, a cell, a circuit breakerunit removably disposed in the cell, an operating mechanism for thecontact members of the circuit breaker, a track disposed in the cell, atruck carriage mounted on the track for supporting said unit, arotatable arm having a pivotal axis for driving said carriage into andout of the cell, said arm being in engagement with said carriagethroughout it entire range of travel, means for operating said arm aboutits pivotal axis, and an interlocking bar actuated by said operatingmechanism to engage said operating means to prevent outward movement ofsaid carriage While the contact members of the circuit breaker areclosed.

7. In switchgear apparatus, in combination, a cell, a circuit breakerunit removably disposed in the cell, an operating mechanism for thecontact members of the circuit breaker, a track disposed in the cell, atruck carriage mounted on the track for supporting said unit, arotatable arm having a pivotal axis for driving said carriage into andout of the cell, said arm being in engagement with said carriagethroughout its entire range of travel, means for operating said armabout its pivotal axis, and an interlocking bar carried by the circuitbreaker unit and actuated by said operating mechanism to block inwardmovement of the carriage beyond a predetermined point while the contactmembers of the circuit breaker are closed.

8. I switchgear apparatus, in combination, a cell, a circuit breakerunit removably disposed in the cell, an operating mechanism for thecontact members of the circuit breaker, a track disposed in the cell, atruck carriage mounted on the track for supporting said unit, arotatable arm having a pivotal axis for driving said carriage into andout of the cell, said arm being in engagement with said carriagethroughout its entire range of travel, means for operating said armabout its pivotal axis and an interlocking bar carried by the circuitbreaker unit and actuated by said operating mechanism to block inwardmovement of the carriage beyond a predetermined point and to preventoutward movement of the carriage while the contact members of thecircuit breaker are closed.

9. In switchgear apparatus, in combination, a cell, a circuit breakerunit removably disposed in the cell, an operating mechanism for thecontact members of the circuit breaker, a track disposed in the cell, atruck carriage mounted on the track for supporting said unit, arotatable arm for driving said carriage into and out of the cell, saidarm being in engagement with said carriage throughout its entire rangeof travel, worm and gear means for operating said arm, and aninterlocking bar actuated by said operating mechanism to engage saidgear to block inward movement of the carriage beyond a predeterminedpoint and to prevent outward movement of the carriage while the contactmembers of the circuit breaker are closed.

10. In switchgear apparatus, the combination with a cell and anapparatus unit removably disposed therein, of extensible means forsupporting said unit, an arm having a pivotal axis disposed within thecell for actuating said unit into and out of the cell on said extensiblemeans through a range of travel greater than the depth of the cell, themovement of said unit being controlled by said arm throughout said rangeof travel, and means for operating said arm about its pivotal axisthrough an angle of substantially degrees.

CHARLES P. WEST.

